Manually propelled vehicle



18, 1941. A. RUNNING I 235,041

L ANUALLY PROPELLED VEHICLE Filed May 21, 1958 2 Sheets$haet 1 flS-8 INVENTOR ADOL PH EON/Vl/Vfi BY March 18, 1941. A; RQNNING 223mm MANUALLY PROPELLED VEHICLE Filed may 21, 1938 2 sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Aoazplv @o/v/w/vs BY Patented Mar. 1a, 1941 umao 1 srA'rss PATENT OFFICE mil? 'hppllcation MI! 21, 1938, Serial N0. 209,283

11 Claims. (Cl. 280-),

This invention relates generally to improvements in that class of relatively small, hand operated wheeled trucks which includes wheelbarrows, handcarts', and other vehicles used for 5 transporting goods and materials of various kinds.

Trucks or vehicles of this kind generally are not provided with means for steering their supporting wheel, or wheels, and in making a turn 10 it is therefore necessary for the operator to swing the vehicle around by means of its handle, or handles, so that his headed in the desired direction. Such action requires a considerable number of extra steps by the operator and also. prevents the making of a turn in restricted space since a considerable amount of room is needed for this swinging action of the vehicle.

It is the primary object of my invention, thereiore, to provide means wherebyhand operated' 20 trucks or transport vehicles of this kind may be steered in .orderto make'turns without lateral swinging movement of thevehlcle, and to thus greatly facilitate the use and operation of such devices and to enable them to be used and turned 9% i in relatively restricted spaces.

Another object is to provide steering means iorhand operated vehicles of this kind in which the steering control is arranged as a part of the handles used for lifting and manipulating the W vehicle so that the steering operation may be carried out conveniently and without requiring that the operator shift his hands from their norm ni positions on the handles.

Another objectis t'o provides. steering mechit anism for a handoperated wheel supported transport vehicle including handles for manipulating the vehicle, and hand grips rotatably arranged on the handles in position for convenient operationby the hands as they manipulate the vehicle, to and the said hand grips having connection to a dirigibie wheel, or wheels, of the vehicle in such manner that rotation of the hand grips will result in an oscillation of the wheel, or wheels, in a horizontal plane to thereby steer and guide the vehicle in any desireddirection.

Another object is to provi e a. steering mecha- I nism for a vehicle'ha a dirigible wheel, or

' wheels. and handles extended .in position for manipulating by the operator to lift and move the vehicle, (1 the said steering mechanism. in-? 1-, .-cluding movable means associated with the handles and normally eifectiye to serve as hand grips by which the vehicle may be lifted andmoved but arranged in such manner that movement, o5 orthe hand grips control the direction of the 7 wheel, or wheels, supporting the vehicle for steering purposes.

Another object is to provide a steering mechanism for a wheel supported and hand operated vehicle which includes a dirigible wheel, or wheels, 6' and a handle by means of which the vehicle may be moved, and which steering mechanism includes I means whereby'rotation or oscillation of the han die on its axis willbe effective to steer or guide the dirigible wheel, or wheels, and control th 10 direction 01- thevehicle. V

Another object isto provide a steering mech-L anism for a dirigible wheel, or wheels, of 9. ve-- hicle, which may be operated from a remote point and which includes gear, cable or lever actuated means for oscillating the wheel, or wheels, about a vertical axis to thereby control the direction of the vehicle.

A further object is to provide an improved dirigible wheel assembly for vehicles of this kind in which the wheel itself is journaled in a'supporting fork and is releasably retained therein in such manner that it may be removed and replaced at any time without loosening any screws or bolts of any kind and 'can, in fact, be at least replaced in the-fork without the use of any tools whatsoever. l

A further object is to provide an improved dirigible wheel assembly for vehicles of this kind in which the vertical axis on which the wheel oscillates for steering purposes is arranged in the same plane as the axis on which the wheel rotates in thus prevent the setting up of lateral or twist- A ing stresses such as would have a tendency to resist oscillation oi the wheel in steering and to otherwise interfere with the operation.

The foregoing and other objects, together with means whereby the same maybe carried into efiect, will best be understood-from the following detailed description of my invention, reference 0 being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a wheelbarrow having a dirigible wheel and gear actuated means for steering the wheel responsive to rotation of hand grips arranged at the ends of the handles. Fig. 2 is a fragmental plan view of the frontal portion of wheelbarrow showing the wheel and steering means therefor.

Fig. 3 is a view similar toFi'g. 1, but showing a cable actuated steering means for the wheel.

Fig. is a view similar to Fig. 2, but again showing the cable actuated steering means.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentahsectional detail view showing a modified arrange nt of the handy!' grips or members for controlling the steering action of the wheels in connection with the cable actuated steering means therefor.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental side elevation of the frontal portion of a wheelbarrow showing a dirigible wheel mounting with cam acting means for normally retaining the wheel in straight ahead position.

Fig. 7 is a view along the line 'I'| in Fig. 6.

10 Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a wheelbarrow,

showing cable operation of the dirigible wheel and- '20 of Fig. 10, but showing the wheel in vertical and diametrical cross section to better disclose the mounting therefor. I

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a two wheeled type of hand truck showing means for steering 25 the wheels thereof by manipulation of the handles by which the truck is lifted and moved.

Fig. 18 is a transverse section along the line |s-|: in Fig. 12.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 30 and 2 of the drawings, the reference numeral It generally designates a wheelbarrow including the receptacle or body II, the forwardly converging handles l2 and I3, the supporting wheel l4 and the legs or stand structure I5. These parts are .85 arranged in substantially the usual manner so that the handles [2 anti i3 project rearwardly to serve as means whereby the device may be picked up and balanced on the wheel i4 and rolled from place to place on the wheel.- In accordance with my invention, however, the wheel I4 is dirigibly mounted by means of a fork Ii whichextends rearwardly and has its bight l'l apertured so that it may be rigidly secured to the lower end of a vertically axised steering-shaft or king pin I 8. This pin i8 is iournaled through a casting or mounting member [8 which has tubular members 20 for receiving the frontal ends of the handles l2 and I3, and wherein the said handles are secured by any suitable means.

50 A gear 2| is secured to the upper end of the pin l8 above the casting member l9.

The handles 12 and ii are of tubular construction, and thus provide passageways through which steering shafts 22 and 28 may be rotatably 55 mounted so that they extend at each end from the handles. At their'frontal ends the steering shafts 22 and 23 carry rigidly mounted pinions 24 which are placed in mesh with the gear 2|, while at their rear ends the shafts are provided with tubular hand grips or grip members 25 which are rigidly pinned on the shafts and exiignd from the rear ends of the handles [2 and In use the wheelbarrow is operated in the a usual manner by placing the hands on the grip members 25 and lifting the barrow upwardly so that it may When. however, it is desired to make a turn in either direction the grip members 25 are turned 70 on their axes, causing a rotation of the steering shafts 22 and23 and corresponding movement of the pinions'24. This action rotates the gear 2| and the pin II and oscillates the fork II in a horizontal plane so that the direction of the 15, wheel is varied to thereby steer the whack be moved forwardly in the wheel l4.

' necessary to partially rotate the various steering barrow in the desired direction. This action may 1 be carried out very conveniently inasmuch as it requires no change in position of the operators hands except simply the slight twist of the wrists parts, as will be understood. Both grip members 25 are preferably arranged to turn in the same direction in the steering operation, since this is the more normal and convenient action, but it is, 'of course, understood that they may be adapted to turn in opposite directions if so desired. In Figs. 3 and 4 the wheelbarrow l0, body portion ll, handlesi2, and I3, and stand i5 are exactly as heretofore described and likewise the wheel l4 has its fork l6 affixed to a steering pin it which is carried in the casting member 19 at the frontal ends of the handles. In this case, however, the geared connections and steering mechanisms are replaced by cable actuatedor driven steering means and. in lieu of the gear 2|, a pulley or sheave 26 is aflixed to the upper end of the pin it, and a cable 21 is wrapped therearound, as shown. The ends 28 of the cable 21 are passed rearwardly through the tubular handles i2 and I 3, and are secured by the tension adjusting bolts 29 to the rear ends of the grip members 25. These members 25 are journaled on the rear end portions of the handles l2. and I3, and have their frontal ends cut off obliquely, or at an angle to their axes, to provide cam acting surfaces 30 which bear against, and cooperate with, similiarly cut ends of cam collars 3| which are secured to the handles.

The foregoing arrangement is such that rotation of the grip members 25 will exert a pull on the cable 21 and cause a rotation of the sheave 28 and move the wheel l4 in a horizontal plane to thereby steer the wheelbarrow. The grip members 25 here again serve also as the means for normally lifting and manipulatingthe, wheelbarrow, as hereinbefore described.

In Fig. 5 a pivotally mounted form of grip member is disclosed, and comprises the suitably formed and shaped member 25a having its shank pivotally mounted at 32 on a bracket 33 which is secured to the rear end of the handle l2 or ii. A crank lever or finger 34 is extended from the shank of the grip member 25a, and the cable end 22 is secured at 35 to this lever 'so that an upward movement .of the member will result in a pull on the cable to steer the wheelbarrow. This upward movement of either of the members 25a (one is,'of course, used on each side of the wheelbarrow) may be readily carried out by a slight forward movement of the wrist on the side toward which it is desired to turn. The ends of the levers 34 are rounded as at 36, where they contact the cable ends l8,.to prevent wear on the cables.

Figs. 6 and 7 disclose an improved wheel mounting in which the wheel fork It'- has its bight portion I'l provided on its upper side with a cam acting face 21 which cooperates with a similar cam actinging face 28 provided at the underside of the bracket or casting member l9. This casting member is secured at the frontal ends of the handles l2 and I3 carrying the body member ll but, in this-case. the handles are turned upwardly at their frontal ends in such manner that the casting member may be supported over the wheel 14. The king pin it extends through the casting memberfand an expansion coil spring 39 is braced between the member and a collar 40 fixed on the pin.

The cam actingfaces are obliquely and optilt positely cut to slope forwardly and rearwardly' from the radial lines 4| which are extended transversely'with respect to the normal straight, ahead line of travel of the wheelbarrow. As a result, the cam faces normally-retain the wheel I4 in its normal straightaway position, and resistmovement of the wheel to either, side. However, the wheel may be so turned, by any steering means desired, and the spring will allow the pin i8 to yieldably move downward as required by this action; and the spring, coacting with the cam surfaces, will then have a tendency at all times to" return the wheel to norvmal position after the turn has been made.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, I provide an assembly wherein the wheelbarrow II has cable actuated steering means quite similar to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and which includes the sheave 2,6 secured atop the shaft l8 and carrying the cable 21, which has its ends affixed to the grip members 25'' arranged, as described, so that rotation of these members on the handles II will oscillate the wheel l4 and fork li 'to steer the wheelbarrow. The casting member I9 is secured at 42 to the frontal side of the wheelbarrow body, and the handles I! (the handle corresponding to 13 not appearing) are extended alongside this body member, instead of beneath the same as previous- 1y shown, so that idler sheaves 4lare necessarily provided near the frontal ends of the handles to properly guide the cable Ill.

The fork I 6" is made of malleable material so that its spaced arms 44 may have a slight degree of resiliency sufllcient to permit them to be spread apart at their ends and enguring that they will return to their normal spacing when released. This is of advantage in that it permits a readily removable type' of wheel mounting now to be described. The wheel l4 has the transversely extended axle 45 on which the hub. of the wheel is journaled by roller bearings 48. The inner sides of the fork 'arms 44 have inwardly opening sockets or receptacles 41 formed near their lower ends, and from these sockets to their lower extremities the arms are grooved and beveled oi! outwardly and downwardly as indicated at 48. The length or the axle 45 is such that it will just span the arms 44 and rest at its ends in the sockets 41 as clearly shown in Fig.- 9. However, by slightly spreading the arms 44 apart at their free ends the axle may drop from the sockets and the wheel it may then be removed very readily. In fact, the only tool'necessary for this operation would be a screw driver, which could be used as a pry working against the arms 44 and, of course, there would be no loose parts to be mislaid while changing a Wheel. When replacing the wheel the. axle may be pressed at its ends against the beveled faces 48 oi the arms 44, to thereby spread the arms so that the axle may slip into the sockets 41.

in Figs. 10 and 11 I have disclosed another form oi" steering apparatus in which the rotatable hand grips 25 at the ends of the handles t2 (the opposite handle corresponding to handle i3 not being shown) actuate steering shafts 22 and 23 extending thno ugh the handles and carrying crank arms 49 at their frontal ends, forwardly oi the body of the wheelbarrow. One of these crank arms 49 is double ended, and is connected at one end by a cross or radius rod." to the other arm 49, and the other end of the double crank.

arm is connected by the steering link ii to an extended lever or finger. 52, which extends from the wheel ,l4. Thus, by turning the hand 75 259, the link 5| will oscillate the wheel l4 to stew nected betweenthe hand grip members and th 75 the wheelbarrow and, due to the cross connection of the rod 50, the hand grips will operate together and in the same direction.

' barrow. The wheel H has its rim or disk 51 laterally extended for cupped and carrying the axle 58 which extends from a fork 59 pivotally mounted on the pin 58. The arrangement of parts is such that the vertical axis of the pin 56, on which the wheel i4 oscillates in the steering action,'coincides with the plane on which the wheel rolls or its axis of rotation, as clearly shown. As a result thewheel has no tendency to camber or sway to either side, and the steering operation is thus greatly facilitated. a Another type of small transport vehicle to which my handle controlled steering mechanism is well adapted is the two wheeled truck desig- 'and 13. Here the truck comprises handles li and ii, the body H and wheel supporting castings l9 which play substantially the same parts as they do in the wheelbarrow, hereinbefore de scribed. However, the castings iii are two in number, and two wheels W are supported in transversely spaced relation thereon by means of the king or pivot pins i The forks l6 which carry the wheels M thusswivel on the pins ill for steering purposes, and the forks carry the fingers or cranks 52 extended rearwardly and connected by a cross or tie rod The hand grip members 25' are journaled in brackets 6|. secured to the rear. ends of the ham cues, and these members are connected by universal vjoints 62 to the steering. shafts 22 and 23 which carry the crank arms 49 at their frontal ends. These arms 49 are connected by the steering links 5! to the tie rod 50 by means of the terminal plate 63 secured to this rod. The steering shafts are shown in Figs. -12.and 13 as suspended in bearing hangers 64 below the handles but, by minor rearrangement, the shafts sired.

In use, the truck is lifted and opcrated in usual manner with the hands placed on the hand grip members 25 for this action. However, by turning these rrnembers 25 the wheels M may be oscillated on their vertical pins iii to steer the the truck to either side, as may be desired.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided very simple and convenient handle actuated steering means for the small hand operated vehicles of the types so universally used. It is to be understood that I may vary from the structures shown in structural details, so long as f such variations fall within the scope of the an wheel in a horizontal plane and thereby steering the vehicle, and movablesteering members conhandles.

sponsive to movement of the hand grip members. 2. In a hand operated vehicle, a dirigible supporting wheel, handles extended from the vehicle, grip members movably mounted at the ends of the handles for lifting and manipulating the vehicle, a vertically axised-pin supporting the wheel for oscillating movement in a horizontal plane/a steering gear affixed to the pin, steering shafts extended from the grip members and movable thereby, and gears connected to the steering shafts and meshed with the steering gear. 3. In a hand operated vehicle, a dirigible supporting wheel, handles extended from the vehicle, grip members movably mounted at the ends of the handles for lifting and manipulating the vehicle, a vertically axised pin supporting the wheel for oscillating movement in a horizontal plane, a steering gear fixed to the pin,-steeri ng shafts extended from the grip members and movable thereby, and gears connected to the steering shafts and meshed with the steering gear, the said handles being tubular and the saidsteering shafts being mounted endwise through the 4. In a hand operated vehicle, a dirigible supporting wheel, handles extended from the vehicle, grip members movably mounted at the ends of the handles for lifting and manipulating the vehicle, a vertically axised pin supporting the wheel for oscillating movement in a horizontal plane, a

. sheave secured on the pin, a cable trained around the sheave and connected to the grip members, and cam acting means associatedewith the grip members and handles whereby movement of the said members will exert a pull on the cable for steering the vehicle.

5. In a hand operated vehicle, a dirigible supporting wheel, handles extended from the vehicle, grip members movably mounted at the ends of the handles for lifting and manipulating the vehicle, a vertically axised-pin supporting the wheel for oscillating movement in a horizontal plane, a finger extended .from .the wheel, steering shafts extended from the hand grip members, crank arms secured to the steering shafts, and link members connecting the crank arms to the finger for oscillating the wheel about a vertical axis in response to movement of the grip members on thehandles.

6. In a dirigible wheel assembly for a vehicle, a

, wheel mounting post secured to the wehicle, a lateral offset at the lower end of the post, a pin. vertically axised through the said offset, a wheel having its hub laterally offset to accommodate the saidlateral oifset oi the post and pivotally' 2,235,041 steering mechanism for actuating the latter rea mounted on the said pin in a vertical plane cutting the medial peripheral line of the wheel.

7. A wheelbarrow comprising a dirigible wheel, handles extended rigidly from the wheelbarrow. hand grip members mounted in extended coaxial relation at the ends of the handles and rotatable thereon, a steering mechanism for angling the wheel in a horizontal plane, and connecting means for actuating said steering mechanism in response to rotation of the hand grip members.

i 8. A hand propelled vehicle comprising a forwardly mounted supporting; wheel, handles extended rearwardly from the vehicle, grip members movably mounted on the handles, a vertically axised pin supporting the wheel for dirigible movement in a horizontal plane, a steering gear afilxed to the pin, steering shafts secured to the gripmembers and extending forwardly in converging relation to points adjacent the pin,

[ and gears on the said steering shafts meshed with the steering 8681'.

9. A hand propelled vehicle comprising, a forwardly mounted supporting" wheel, a vertically 10. A hand propelled vehicle comprising a frame supported forwardly by at least one wheel mounted for steering movement about a verticalaxis, a pair of handles extending rearwardly from the frame and rigid with respect thereto for supporting and propelling the same, a mem-' ber mounted on one ofsaid handles for oscillation about the axis thereof, and means operated by the oscillation of said member for steering said wheel.

11. A hand propelled vehicle comprising a frame supported forwardly by at least one wheel mounted for steering movement about a vertical axis, a pair of handles extending rearwardly from the frame and rigid therewith for supporting and propelling the same, members mounted on said handles and oscillatabie about separate axes thereon, and means connected with the said members for operation by oscillation thereof to steer the wheel, about its said am.

ADOLPH some. 

